Drum Roll Please......

Hamster is a GIRL!!


We had the anatomy ultra sound today. Everything is looking great and right on schedule. The ultra sound tech was very confident that it was a girl. The picture of her bottom is a bit of a mystery to me, but I didn't see any boy parts either. She wouldn't roll over so they could get pics of her little spine so I will have another ultra sound in 4 weeks and they will take another look and give me a new face photo! Still looks like a Hamster to us!

Split Decision

I finished my last quilt of 2011! It has been received at its new home and I know it was loved. I bought the pattern in South Dakota and used leftover fabrics from the Slice and Dice that I made for my mother in law.
The photos were taken hastily on my bed before I wrapped the quilt to take it to the Birthday girl!

My long arm quilter out did herself once again and did a beautiful swirly pattern in variegated thread! It makes the design so much fun!





It is backed in a plain Moda marble to showcase the quilting.

I know the Birthday girl loved it since I got about 4 hugs before I left!

A Very Merry Holiday

I didn't do a WIP post yesterday because I was too busy spending time with family and enjoying the day. We laughed, we ate, we played games, and enjoyed each others company. It was a nice day. I also scored some fantastic presents! I got a new rolling case for my sewing machine, a new iron for quilting, a walking foot for my machine, and some Derwent inktense pencils. Of course I got other things, but those are the crafty type stuff! LOL
Today I've felt a bit under the weather, possibly a cold coming on. I stayed in bed and enjoyed watching the new TV my Hubby bought me for our bedroom! I napped, cleaned up the bedroom a bit, and finished sewing the binding on a quilt! Not a bad day for feeling a bit yucky. I hope to have photos of the quilt to share tomorrow before I take it to the Birthday girl it will belong too. Stay tuned for that!
I hope everyone had a joyful holiday!

WIP Sunday: One More Spicy!

I had a huge work day yesterday and enjoyed every minute of it. I turned on the Christmas tunes and set to work on several projects I needed to get finished up before the holidays. I made binding for a quilt that is now ready for hand sewing, I made a pillow case with Steelers fabric for a friend of the Hubby, finished another spicy spiral table runner for my Grandma, and started the Grinch quilt for me!  I used spring inspired fabrics with golds, yellows, creams, and soft greens. I love how it turned out!  
I used the stitch in the ditch quilting method again. I love the texture it gives to the back.


It is all wrapped and under the tree! I took a shot of my progress on the Grinch quilt too. I'm preparing the blocks that will be appliqued on.

I can't wait to finish it up and have it out for the holidays! Time to go help bake some cookies with the family! Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday!

Gather It Up

I've finished another gift! I have a Great Aunt that has chickens on her farm and she is just starting to get a nice batch of eggs each day. She walks with a cane and has trouble getting the eggs to the house sometimes so I decided to make her a gathering apron so she can walk to the house hands free!

I used all stash fabrics and the pattern I found online with some alterations so it would fit her measurements.

This is seriously the most awkward photo! LOL I had such a time trying to get one. I wanted to show how it gathers up in the front and forms a pouch for the eggs. I think she is really going to love it and it will help to make her life a bit easier.

Only 1 more gift to make!

Spicy!

After a very long and trying week I managed to set to work in the dungeon and come up with some gifts yesterday! It felt good to concentrate on sewing and not worry about other things.

Remember that runner I showed you that wasn't finished? Well I completed another for a gift. My first go at stitching in the ditch quilting on my machine!

I used western themed fabrics. Some were left overs from the western quilt I made a while back, others were pieces I had picked up along the way with the intent of making something fun. It is a gift for my Hubby's Grandma for Christmas! I love this pattern! It is so fun and easy to make. I have plans on making 1 more for my Grandma!

This was my first try at stitching in the ditch quilting! I borrowed a friends walking foot (thanks Betty!) until I get my own and set to work. I really like how it looks and it wasn't as hard as I thought.

I also made a pillow case for my little sister for Christmas. The fabric is 3D! I think she is going to love it! I tried a new pillow case pattern and I totally recommend it. It is a free pattern on www.allpeoplequilt.com Our quilt guild is going to make some pillow cases for local charities and I thought I should test the pattern before I make a few to give away. It went great and I love that there are no exposed seams. It also only took me about 15 minutes to make!

I'm working on a couple more gifts and hope to get things all wrapped up just in time!

WIP Sunday: Deck The Halls!

I'm finally getting some crafty mojo back! I took a quilting class yesterday for the spicy spiral table runner! It was so much fun and easy to do that I think I'm going to whip up at least 1 more for a last minute Christmas gift!

I only have a couple more things to do. I need to hand stitch my turning opening closed and top stitch around the outer edge. I can quilt it as well, but I sort of like it just the way it is. I might quilt another one in the future. The colors are much more vibrant in real life and that isn't tan, but gold on a cream background. I'll try for outdoor photos when it is finished.

Our tree is up and ready for us to celebrate! Don't mind the mess around it! You can see a tote lid that is filled with other decorations that will be put up today. I love how each ornament stands out so nice on this tree. One of my favorites so far! The tree skirt was handmade for us this year by the Hubby's Grandma! So fun to have so many handmade things on our tree! Handmade or not, each ornament has special meaning to us both.

Off to finish putting out the decorations and then time for some gift sewing!

Flurry Of Work

I go in big creative flurries these days! I work for an entire day on something and then go for a few days touching nothing! I don't really like working this way, but I guess I take what I can get.

I started work on a baby quilt for Hamster! The embroidered blocks were done by my Grandmother around 20-30 years ago! We aren't sure, but she thinks they may have been meant for a quilt for me. LOL She handed them over and with a few non gender specific fabric selections I started turning them into a quilt! ( I'm not a fan of the forced pink or blue thing anyway.)

I decided to make those super fun pinwheels to boarder the quilt as well. I made all the pinwheels to find that since this is my first quilt without an actual pattern my math was a bit off. I bought some cute orange zig zag fabric to add an additional boarder and I will use that to bind as well to bring it all together. A pop of a 3rd color will really be fun!

Sadly I must set aside the baby quilt to get a couple other Christmas gifts done. I'm not making as much as I normally do, which makes me sad. Time and being pregnant have sapped my crafty mojo!

Fa La La La La!

I participated in the Trim the Tree Swap on Flickr again this year and received another trio of fantastic handmade ornaments to add to my tree! I love doing this swap! Last year I got a great set and this set didn't disappoint!

The stocking in amazing colors is from Shelz Stuff, the round ornament with adorable fabrics is from LethargicLass, the sweet little owl is from Patchwork Queen.

Thanks ladies for a wonderful swap! I am getting excited about getting a tree now!

MIA

I've been missing in action for awhile now. I'm always so disappointed in myself when I don't keep up with my blog and my friends! Things are going well and I'm finally getting over the morning sickness business. I'm hoping my crafty mojo will get a jump start so I can start getting a few Christmas gifts ready! Sadly, I really haven't worked on much. I've been tired. Yesterday I stayed home from work because I was all stuffed up and I managed to make the first onsie for the new baby!

A wee hamster! I found this coloring page online from a google search and thought it was adorable. We call the baby Hamster for now and I just think it might stick. LOL It isn't my best stitching as last time I bought stabilizer I thought I had gotten the right stuff, but turns out I didn't. Oh well, I think it is perfectly cute and Hamster won't mind. ;)

I hope to get my butt in gear and work on my Grinch quilt this week as well as finishing up that Split Decision quilt. I'd like to get them both to the quilter by the first week in December! Lofty goals!

Mini Monster Masterpiece!

On Friday I taught a class at my local art center. I've had these mini canvases sitting around for awhile and wanted to make something fun with them. We used a bit of wire and turned them into mini monster masterpieces! The kids had a blast making them right before Halloween. I made a mosaic to share since I took individual photos of each monster.

The first monster was my example piece. I have a couple canvases left over and might just make a couple more!

Slice and Dice

I finished up my Mother in Law's Christmas gift!

It is from a class I took this summer from a national teacher. The blocks were super fun and I had a blast picking out Kauffman batiks.

I had a specific vision for the quilting. I wanted a tight meander pattern. My wonderful long arm quilter scaled down her meander pattern to get it just how I wanted!

The backing is just a plain light blue that shows off the quilting just perfectly.

I'm so happy to have one holiday gift completed! Now I need to get to work on the rest of my list!

WIP Sunday: My Biggest Project EVER!

I want to start this post by wishing my wonderful Hubby a Happy Birthday! I know this coming year will be the biggest and best yet! Finally, he is the same age as me again!

I thought I'd let everyone in on my biggest WIP ever!

I'm 11 weeks along! We are calling it Hamster for now, as that is what it looked like on the ultrasound machine and we felt it needed a name to make it seem more real. We are super excited and of course a bit nervous as first time parents. Don't worry I'll still be crafting up a storm, but with a few baby crafts thrown in. ;)

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone! I'll be back tomorrow to share a new finished quilt!

WIP Sunday: I Was So Busy!

Yesterday I was so busy sewing I didn't take time to blog! That's ok though since it means I think my slump is lifting! I worked on finishing up a quilt top I've had laying around for awhile. I managed to sew all the blocks together and put on an inner boarder. I choose a light fabric because I liked the contrast better than a darker fabric.

Now, this is all fabric left over from another quilt. The "Slice and Dice" that is currently getting the binding hand stitched on. (I'll share it when I'm done!) I over bought and decided to use it up in another quilt. Which means I'm very low on fabric and this needs another boarder! I have some strips left over so I tried out the idea of doing a "piano key" outter boarder.

I'm really not feeling it! I think it looks distracting and just not with the flow of the quilt. All I have left are some 6.5 inch strips so I think I'm going to have to think of something else! I do have some solid turquoise Kona in my stash, but I feel the solid would be to heavy to boarder this with. Any suggestions?

New Hand Made Ornies

I shared a couple of ornies last week, but today I felt in the mood to make more! It turns out I decided I wanted the ornies I sent out for the Trim the Tree Swap on Flickr to have a common thread. Don't get me wrong, I loved the pine cone and angel. I'm sure they will find loving homes anyway, but I wanted to send something different. I set about creating something this morning and three little ornies popped off my machine before lunch!

I was inspired by some small hoops I saw on one of my partners inspiration mosaic. I gave them my own twist and I love how they turned out.

I used my machines alphabet function to spell out Happy Holidays and a sweet little bunting of course.

Some little trees on a snowy hill.

A little snowman all dressed for cold weather.

I think these turned out just how I wanted and now I can get them packaged up and sent! Oh, and no more thinking about Christmas until Halloween is over! :)

WIP Sunday: I'm In A Slump

I'm in a slump. What more can I say. My crafty mojo has diminished! I'm sure I'll get it back, but until then I sit. Then today I checked my email and guess what, I won a spot on Tam's huge super fantastic class "life book"! I'm so excited! A year long class on willowing! That should get my juices flowing!

I did manage to make a couple of ornaments for the Flickr swap. I have one more to make, but first I must decide what to make.

I made a vintage inspired paper angel. Scrap book papers, a wooden bead for her head, and a spiral paper clip for her halo.

I also gave the popular felt pine cone a whirl. It was in the Better Homes and Gardens mag from last year and I had been saving the pattern. I used a dark chocolate and light aqua felt. I just need to add a string or ribbon to hang it.

So I haven't gone completely stale!

WIP Sunday: Spooky Girl

Well, the Art Fest auction was today after being canceled by rain in September. We had a good turnout and made a wonderful amount for the center! $2,055! That beat last years total! I'm so happy it is done!

I'm working on a bout a million things right now, but none are really ready to be shown off yet, so I'll show you a drawing I did. She turned out rather spooky and wonderful.

I hope to get to work on some ornaments this week!

MIA Update

I went a little missing in action to take a trip to the other side of my state to go to some art gallery meetings for my art center. It was a blast and I saw tons of great art and toured some fantastic museums. I learned a lot and got to help choose the exhibits our art center will be showing in 2012!

Before I left on my trip I did manage to whip up some more chemo caps to donate! Last Saturday the quilty gals and I had a quick sew day to make more caps. I have a total of 4, Betty made 1, and Jan did 2! I'm shooting for a goal of 6 by this Saturday when we have to turn them in. I think I'll try to make up 2 more tomorrow night. The come together pretty quick.

The first 4 starting from the bottom of the pile are the ones I've made, the first blue one is Betty's, and the last 2 blue ones are from Jan. I can't wait to hand them in!

I'm off to stalk partners in the Trim the Tree Ornament Swap on flickr now! :) Then I get to plan out some ornies!

More Vintage Halloween!

So yesterday I shared the package I received from the Vintage Halloween Swap on Craftster and today I'll share what I made for my partner!

I tried my hand at someone else's prim pattern! I've made lots of prims, but always drawn my own patterns. I got a great pattern from Cyndi Sue's Prims & Whims and set to work. The skelly moon turned out great, but the needle sculpting was daunting!

I really loved making him and can't wait for him to arrive at his new home! He looks so great on my red front door, I just might have to make myself one! Here is a close up of some of the sculpting.

For a 2nd item I drew up a vintage inspired picture and painted it with my water color crayons and water soluble graphites.

The photo doesn't really do it justice as I was running out of day light and it is framed under glass!

So much fun making Halloween stuff!

Happy Vintage Halloween!

I just received my package from my partner in the vintage Halloween swap on Craftster and I had to share. It totally made my day after a super long day at work.

The swap was only supposed to be 1 large item, but we decided to do 2 items.

First irid3sc3nt made me this amazing embroidered raven in a vintage style frame.

It looks perfect with my Halloween tree! Which is also decorated in spooky Dotee dolls from Craftster swaps.

She also made me a super sweet prim pumpkin garland. I was so excited to hang it up over one of the windows in the living room I didn't take any great photos! Here is one of the cute little pumpkins. They all are different shapes with different faces and all hand sewn!

I'm so happy to have my house decorated for Halloween!

WIP Sunday: Shop Hopping!

I went MIA last Sunday so I could go on the fabric shop hop! That sounds like a fantastic reason to leave my poor blog! We went to a few of the shops last week and finished up our tour today. It is 5 shops total with more than a bit of driving involved, but well worth it. My quilty pals and I saddled up for the day and went a bit crazy! I think it is my favorite time of year after Halloween of course.

I thought I'd share a photo of my crazy haul.

I got some great deals too! This pile includes: 3D peace sign fabric with coordinating stripe for a pillowcase for my sister, an entire quilt kit so I can make myself a Grinch quilt, a coffee themed table runner kit, 2 yards of black Kona, two different versions of the Alexander Henry Day of the Dead fabric that I seem to hoard (1/2 yard of the black, 1 yard of the cream), 2 yards of decor weight Alexander Henry Skullduggery that I hope to get turned into a tailored vest, 6 fat quarters, 2 colorways of the Alexander Henry mushroom fabric for my gnome quilt stash, 2 different 1 yard cuts of Halloween fabric ( my free gift for showing my finished quilt from last year!), and a yard of this wonderful black and white with pops of color stuff that I fell in love with.

Not included in the photo is a yard of some super sweet stuff I bought with a certain cocktail swilling sweetie in mind and all of the fat quarters we got as prizes at the various shops. I also got a couple of really nice pattern books as prizes.

All in all it was a fantastic little road trip with my pals. Lots of laughs and fun (and money spent) by all.

Oh, I'm still working away at plenty of projects. Stay tuned for more updates on those. ;)

Little Luck Bringer

Remember that I took the M3 course on willowing.ning? Well I never did finish the final assignment. I don't know why, but I just didn't, so when it came time to create a piece to donate to the art centers annual Art Fest Auction I knew it would be something fun and different to donate. Our theme for the Art Fest this year is "celebrating culture through art" so I figured I'd put a little Irish spin on it to celebrate my part of my heritage.

It is a mixed media wall hanging. The little fairy and flowers are painted on a piece of unstretched canvas with water soluble crayons, water soluble graphite, acrylics, and collaged book pages. The wall hanging is coffee stained muslin with quilted on flowers made from book pages. I used a bit of water soluble crayon to tint them and the stems and leaves as well. I wrote a little Irish blessing on in ink.

"May the blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go."

It goes on auction tomorrow!

WIP Sunday: I Got A Bit Distracted

Yesterday was a fun afternoon of sewing with friends. (After chores were done of course!) We worked on some paper pieced blocks for the quilt guilds raffle quilt. I won't say it went perfectly smooth, but we did manage to get several of our blocks done!

I was given the pattern and directions to make some chemo caps at our guild meeting the other day as well. They will be donated to our local cancer center for people to take home to wear. Some people don't want to wear a wig and these are a nice alternative to wigs. I pulled out a bunch of stash fabric and made myself a goal to make 6 by our next quilt guild meeting! After rearranging the instructions to make it easier I think I won't have a problem. This one was a test and probably won't count towards my 6 as it has a few issues, but it was a good learning experience. Sorry for the terribly blurry shot!

Also an update on the "split decision" quilt. I was having a hard time with the placement of blocks so I called in reinforcements and had help to get them in an order that was pleasing to the eye. Here is a shot on my design wall. The blocks are all stacked and waiting for me to sew the rows together!

I didn't get this posted yesterday because I had to watch the season finale of TrueBlood on HBO! Vampires always get me distracted!

Game Of Thrones OTT Swap

I hosted the Game of Thrones One Tiny Thing Swap on Craftster. I received my package today from the lovely Scuttlebutt. I must admit it was a welcome sight after such a long day at work!

We decided to swap 2 small things instead of just one. Who can stick to one really? lol

She made me a small hoop with my favorite part of the Nights Watch vows cross stitched. I already have the perfect place to hang it on my wall by my cubby of curiosities. All of my fave swap art goes on that wall. Also a pair of dragon egg earrings. The stone is amazing and she isn't even sure what it is!

I can't wait to wear them and I know I'll get a ton of compliments!

I love this! So striking. I love x stitch since it is one of the things I don't do.

Thanks so much Scuttlebutt for making this a great swap!